Picture mount apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for rapidly and efficiently changing artwork without having to disassemble and reassemble a mounting frame and its components, including a base frame for mounting to a wall. The base frame includes one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. A mounting board sized to match the dimensions of the base frame includes one or more metal strips matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. Optionally, a mat, glass or acrylic pane and an outer frame with one or more magnets embedded in the periphery of the outer frame matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame, may be included.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 61/578,287, filed Dec. 21, 2011, entitled PICTURE MOUNT APPARATUS.

FIELD

The present invention generally relates to mountings for artwork, and more particularly, to a frame for removably mounting artwork.

BACKGROUND

Picture mountings are known in the art. Typical prior art artwork mountings include a molding or frame that surrounds the art or picture, a glazing, which is the transparent panel or glass sheet in front of the artwork in the frame to enhance and/or protect the artwork, a mat board or matting, which complements the artwork, a mounting board, which is placed behind the artwork, a filler or backer board secured in the frame, which is placed behind the mounting board, and push points, trainable points or diamond points which hold the backer board in place. Other devices for securing the mounting board in place may be used including spring clips or slotted backs, for example.

One problem with these prior art mountings is the time and effort required to mount the artwork, and to periodically change the artwork. In offices and commercial settings, it is often desirable to periodically change, rotate or update the artwork displayed in an entry area, conference room or other area. Changing the artwork often requires skilled workers to change out the artwork. Further, removing the frame from the wall and rehanging the frame often results in frustration trying to locate the hanger on the back of the frame and match it to the hanger on the wall.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides an apparatus for rapidly and efficiently changing artwork without having to disassemble and reassemble a mounting frame and its components. The apparatus includes a base frame for mounting to a wall. The base frame includes one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. A mounting board sized to match the dimensions of the base frame includes one or more metal strips matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame. Optionally, a mat, glass or acrylic pane and an outer frame with one or more magnets embedded in the periphery of the outer frame matched to the placement of the one or more magnets embedded in the base frame, may be included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the front panel.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the front panel.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the base frame.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the base frame.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the base frame.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the base frame of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the base frame of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the base frame of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 12 showing an alternatively mounted artwork.

FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a side view of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for the claims and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Moreover, except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description and in the claims are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broader scope of this invention. Practice within the numerical limits stated is generally preferred. Also, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the description of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferred for a given purpose in connection with the invention implies that mixtures or combinations of any two or more members of the group or class may be equally suitable or preferred.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-7, an embodiment of a picture mount apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. Picture mount apparatus 10 includes a front panel 12 and a base frame 14. Front panel 12 includes a front side 16 and a rear side 18. An item of artwork such as a picture or photograph, for example comprises, is attached to, or is mounted to the front side 16 for display. The front panel 12 is made of a material suitable for mounting a picture, photograph, artwork, or other item for display. On the rear side 18 of the front panel 12, a ferrous metal material or magnets 20 may be mounted or embedded in the surface 18 of the panel 12. The metal material or magnets 20 may be mounted in strips, in select locations, or covering the entire rear surface 18, for example.

The base frame 14 may be a hollow or foam filled box, for example. The base frame 14 may include a front side 22, a top 24, sides 26, bottom 28, and rear side 30. The front side 22 includes magnets 32, which may be embedded in and flush with the surface of the front side 22 of the base frame 14. The magnets 32 may be placed in aligning locations with the metal material or magnets 20 mounted or embedded in the rear side 18 of the front panel 12. Preferably, magnets 32 (and magnets 20) are rare-earth, neodymium, or other permanent magnets suitable to releasably secure the front panel 12 to the base frame 14.

The rear side 30 of base frame 14 may include a mounting channel 34. Mounting channel 34 may have a generally rectangular or polygon shape with an upper support surface 36 sloping downwardly and rearwardly from the back surface 38 of the channel 34. Channel 34 is adapted to engage a hanger 40 mounted to a wall 42. The shape of the channel 34 and complementary hanger 40 as well as the weight of the base frame 14, removably and securely support the picture mount apparatus 10 on the wall 42.

Referring to FIGS. 8-11, an alternative embodiment of the base frame is generally indicated by reference numeral 50. Base frame 50 may be a hollow box, for example. Base frame 50 may include a front side 52, a top 54, sides 56, bottom 58, and a rear side 60. The front side 52 includes magnets 62, which may be embedded in and flush with the surface of the front side 52 of the base frame 50.

The rear side 60 of the base frame 50 may be substantially open with an upper back surface 64 and a lower edge 72. When the frame 50 is hung on the wall 42, the lower edge 72 of the back surface 64 rests on the hanger 40 supporting the frame 50.

Referring to FIG. 12, an alternate embodiment of the picture mount apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 80. Picture mount apparatus 80 may include a base frame 82, picture or artwork mount panel 12, a mat 86, a glass or acrylic pane 88 and a frame 90. If a frame 90 is included, base frame 82 may include magnets 92 embedded in the sides 94 corresponding to magnets or ferrous material 96 embedded on the inside 98 of frame 90. Base frame 82 also includes magnets 100 embedded in the front surface 102 of base frame 82 in complementary alignment with the magnets 20 embedded in the rear surface 18 of panel 12 (see FIG. 3). The glass or acrylic panel 88 may optionally be included to protect the artwork mounted to panel 12.

Mat 86 may also optionally be included to accent the artwork mounted to panel 12. The magnets 96 in frame 90 releasably secure the glass 88 and mat 86 to the base frame 82 when in alignment with the magnets 92.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, an alternate embodiment of the picture mount apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 120. Picture mount apparatus 120 may include a base frame 82, a picture or artwork mount panel 122, a picture or artwork 124, and a frame 90. The picture or artwork 124 may include magnets 126 attached to the back 128 of the picture or artwork 124. The picture or artwork mount panel 122 may include magnets 130 mounted to the front surface 132 of the panel 122. Magnets 126 may be arranged in complementary alignment with magnets 130. Picture or artwork panel 122 may include magnets 134 embedded in the rear surface 136 of the panel 122 in complementary alignment with the magnets 100 in base frame 82. Picture or artwork 124 may be mounted to a board or other stiff panel.

In practice, the base frame 14 may be mounted or hung on a wall in an office or other facility, building or dwelling. A front panel 12 may be easily, readily, securely and releasably attached to the base frame by placing the front panel 12 in proximity of the base frame 14 such that the front panel 12 is magnetically attached to the frame 14. The base frame 14 may include a peripheral lip to permit the front panel 12 to seat within the base frame 14. When a new or different picture mounted to the front side 16 of another front panel 12 is desired to be displayed, the currently mounted front panel 12 to the base frame 14 is simply removed and the new front panel is magnetically attached to the base frame 14. In this manner, pictures, artwork, and other items for display may be easily and readily mounted and displayed.

It should be understood that while a certain form of this invention has been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. A picture mount comprising: a base frame for mounting to a wall having a periphery, a front side and a magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame, a panel having a front side and a rear side and a ferrous metal strip mounted to said rear side of said panel, whereas said ferrous metal strip is positioned on said rear side of said panel to align with said magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame, whereas a picture may be mounted to said front side of said panel for display, whereas said panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said base frame without dismounting said base frame from the wall.
 2. The picture mount of claim 1 wherein said base frame has a rectangular shape with corners and a magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame in each said corner.
 3. The picture mount of claim 2 wherein said panel has a rectangular shape with corners and a ferrous metal strip mounted to said rear side of said panel in each said corner.
 4. The picture mount of claim 2 wherein said magnets are embedded in said front side of said base frame.
 5. The picture mount of claim 1 wherein said base frame is a hallow box.
 6. The picture mount of claim 5 wherein said base frame includes a mounting channel in a rear side of said base frame for receiving a hanger secured to the wall for supporting said base frame.
 7. The picture mount of claim 1 wherein said ferrous metal strip is positioned along the peripheral edges of said rear side of said panel.
 8. A picture mount comprising: a base frame for mounting to a wall having top, bottom, left, right, front and back sides, a magnet secured to one of said top, bottom, left, right or front sides of said base frame, a panel having front and rear sides, and a metal strip secured to said rear side of said panel, whereas said metal strip is positioned on said rear side of said panel to correspond with placement of said magnet secured to said base frame, whereas a picture may be mounted to said front side of said panel, and whereas said panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said base frame without removing said base frame from the wall.
 9. The picture mount of claim 8 wherein said base frame has a rectangular shape with corners and a magnet mounted to said front side of said base frame in each said corner.
 10. The picture mount of claim 9 wherein said panel has a rectangular shape with corners and a ferrous metal strip mounted to said rear side of said panel in each said corner.
 11. The picture mount of claim 9 wherein said magnets are embedded in said front side of said base frame.
 12. The picture mount of claim 8 wherein said base frame is a hallow box.
 13. The picture mount of claim 12 wherein said base frame includes a mounting channel in a rear side of said base frame for receiving a hanger secured to the wall for supporting said base frame.
 14. The picture mount of claim 5 wherein said ferrous metal strip is positioned along the peripheral edges of said rear side of said panel.
 15. A picture mount comprising: a base for mounting to a wall having top, bottom, left, right, front and rear sides, a first magnet secured to said front side of said base, a panel having a front side and a rear side, a metal strip fastened to said rear side of said panel in alignment with said first magnet, a second magnet secured to said front side of said panel, a picture panel having a front side and a rear side, a picture mounted to said front side of said picture panel, and a second metal strip fastened to said rear side of said picture panel in alignment with said second magnet, whereas said picture panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said panel without removing said panel, and whereas said panel may be releasably secured to and removed from said base without removing said base from the wall.
 16. The picture mount of claim 15 further comprising one or more magnets secured to one or more of said top, bottom, left and/or right sides of said base.
 17. The picture mount of claim 16 further comprising a frame adapted to engage a periphery of said base including said top, bottom, left and right sides, and having one or more magnets or metal strips aligned with said one or more magnets secured to said base.
 18. The picture mount of claim 17 further comprising a clear pane mounted between said frame and said picture.
 19. The picture mount of claim 18 further comprising a mat mounted between said clear pane and said picture panel.
 20. The picture mount of claim 17 further comprising a mat mounted between said frame and said picture panel. 